Chapter 181: The Soul Hall Strikes!
"Hiss… Damn it, how am I supposed to keep control?" Lu Bu sucked in a sharp breath, his composure nearly breaking as he quickly propped Medusa up by the waist to create a bit of distance between them.
Seizing the brief moment of clarity, Lu Bu pressed his fingers to Medusa's forehead. A surge of powerful soul energy flowed into her mind, spreading throughout her consciousness.
Medusa's body stiffened momentarily, her previously dazed eyes flickering with a hint of lucidity. However, she quickly tilted her head again, rubbing her face against Lu Bu's chest. Though she had regained some clarity, her actions betrayed a lingering haze of confusion.
"Your Majesty, what's going on?" Lu Bu asked, swallowing hard as he gently held Medusa's flawless face between his hands.
"…The Eight Colored Origin Stone, it's the Origin Stone!" Medusa said breathlessly, her arms clinging tightly around Lu Bu's neck. Her gaze alternated between clarity and daze as she continued: "I… absorbed it. But the seductive power of its creator has transformed into a… love toxin over time… Ah~ You… you need to stay away from me…"
Though Medusa's words urged Lu Bu to distance himself, her actions told another story. Her hands weakly pushed against his chest in a manner more akin to playful resistance, while her legs wrapped tightly around his waist.
Lu Bu groaned inwardly. A love toxin… No cure!
As a seventh tier alchemist, Lu Bu immediately diagnosed her condition. The only way to resolve this was through the union of yin and yang anything else, and Medusa would succumb to her internal fire and perish.
"Sigh… I'm shouldering burdens far beyond my age," Lu Bu lamented dramatically. Resolving to sacrifice himself for the greater good, he steeled his resolve. To save her life was his duty; as an alchemist, compassion drove him to prevent the death of any living being before him.
With a sigh of resignation, Lu Bu channeled his soul energy again, granting Medusa another fleeting moment of clarity.
"Your Majesty, you know the only way to resolve this," Lu Bu said gravely. "What's your decision?"
"I… I…" Medusa's eyes flickered with panic. As the queen of the serpent race, she had ruled decisively for over fifty years, feared for her ruthlessness and revered for her beauty. Yet, in this moment of crisis, she faltered.
Lu Bu didn't rush her. His soul energy continuously poured forth, maintaining her clarity and letting her decide for herself.
He wasn't a saint, but neither was he the type to take advantage of someone in their moment of vulnerability.
"You… bastard…" Medusa murmured, her eyes clouding over again. Her delicate hands caressed Lu Bu's face as she softly muttered, "Consider yourself lucky…"
"Now, hold on a minute!" Lu Bu huffed indignantly. "What do you mean by 'lucky'? I'm on the path to becoming an Emperor. If anything, you're the one who's lucky to have me!"
Medusa froze, her rising passion momentarily replaced by exasperation. For a split second, it felt like the love toxin had vanished entirely.
"Focus your mind and maintain your clarity!" Lu Bu said seriously. "This is a rare opportunity!"
Opportunity? Medusa blinked in confusion.
Lu Bu leaned close, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "It's time for dual cultivation, Your Majesty."
"Ah~" Medusa's body trembled at his words, her crystal clear ears flushing bright red.
When the queen meets the general, their war robes are cast aside. In the warmth of a lotus scented bed, the night stretches long…
…
That night, under a dark and oppressive sky devoid of moonlight or stars, the Black Corner Region lay cloaked in an eerie silence.
On a desolate mountain peak, two faint black mists appeared, their blood red eyes glowing ominously in the darkness.
"Iron Protector has reported back no trace of Protector Xuan…"
"The Black Corner Region is no ordinary place. Its waters run deep."
Their voices were heavy with unease as they exchanged a few brief words. In the Black Corner Region, even the most arrogant would think twice before acting rashly. The region boasted two peak Dou Zongs in the form of the protectors of the Jia Nan Academy, along with a seven star Dou Zong known as the Old Ghost of the Black Mountain.
Even for the Soul Hall, only their most powerful elders could confidently suppress such individuals, but deploying someone of that rank was unlikely for a mere investigation.
"…"
The two exchanged wary glances. Protector Xuan's disappearance was markedly different from that of Protector Wu. The Soul Hall had long anticipated Protector Wu's demise, given his assignment near the Xiao Clan and the Gu Clan.
But Protector Xuan's case was more puzzling. Operating in the Black Corner Region should have been far less risky. Yet, someone or something had dared to strike against the Soul Hall. Was it the Jia Nan Academy, the Old Ghost of the Black Mountain, or another hidden player?
Regardless of who it was, there had to be consequences.
"I recall we have a friend of the Soul Hall in the Black Corner Region. I'll pay him a visit."
"Be cautious. Han Feng isn't exactly trustworthy… I'll gather intelligence on the region's recent movements. Stay hidden."
"Understood. You as well."
With those words, the two figures split up, vanishing into the shadows. They might have been arrogant, but they weren't reckless. Before making any moves, they needed to identify the culprit behind Protector Xuan's disappearance.
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Within the small courtyard of Xiao Yi Xian's residence at Jia Nan Academy, a cheerful voice broke the morning quiet.
"Ahhh~ What a good sleep!" Xiao Yi Xian yawned, stretching her tiny arms and rubbing her eyes as she slowly sat up.
Thanks to Lu Bu's efforts, her body had fully recovered. The five and six tier medicinal pills he had provided weren't ordinary remedies; they were premium supplements for restoring vitality.
Though she initially found Lu Bu's generosity wasteful, she quickly rationalized it after all, he was an alchemist. If anyone could afford such extravagance, it was him.
Spotting a dish of medicinal cuisine left on her table, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit up. Protected by a spatial barrier to preserve its freshness, the dish radiated warmth and energy.
"Wow…" she exclaimed, eagerly reaching through the barrier and pulling the dish close. As she began eating, a blissful expression spread across her face.
Patting her now full stomach, Xiao Yi Xian sighed contentedly. "It would've been even better if I could've eaten it while sitting in Lu Bu's lap."
Her large eyes darted around as a thought struck her. "Where did Lu Bu go, anyway?"
Jumping off her chair, she decided to go find him.
(To be continued…)
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